5595818 ASSESSMENT OF HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF PETROL FILLING WORKERS AT PETROL STATIONS IN GONDAR TOWN, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA: A COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: S.G. Sisay Getu, E.S. Elias Shiferaw, M.M. Mulugeta Melku
Journal: HemaSphere (2023)

Background: Petrol is the non-specific term for petroleum which is used for the inside combustion of engines. Petrol filling workers are highly vulnerable to occupational exposure to these harmful substances which lead to hematotoxicity and blood disorders such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, and dysplastic bone marrow. Thus, this study aimed to assess the hematological parameters of petrol-filling workers in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2019 in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 110 study participants comprising 55 study groups and 55 controls group were recruited by a convenient sampling technique. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and 3 ml of venous blood was collected for the determination of hematological parameters. The data were entered into Epi info 7.2.0.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Mean standard deviation, median, and interquartile ranges were used to present the data. Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the mean or median difference between parametric and non-parametric hematological parameters, respectively. Moreover, Pearson product-moment and Spearman’s rank-order bivariable correlations analyses were used to describing the correlation between hematological parameters and duration of exposure to petrol. A P value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study revealed that the mean red blood cell count and hemoglobin level as well as the median hematocrit, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, absolute lymphocyte count, and red cell distribution width values of petrol filling workers showed a significant increment compared with the control group. On the other hand, the mean cell hemoglobin value of petrol filling workers showed a significant decrement compared with healthy controls. Moreover, the duration of exposure to petrol showed a significant positive correlation with red blood cell count and mean cell hemoglobin concentration; however, a significant negative correlation was observed with mean cell volume. Conclusion: This study showed that the majority of hematological parameters of petrol filling workers showed an increment compared with healthy controls which might be associated with exposure to petrol chemicals. However, further longitudinal studies with a larger sample size should be conducted to explore the impact of petrol exposure on hematopoiesis. References 1. Ezejiofor TIN. Hematological indicators of exposure to petroleum products in petroleum refining and distribution industry workers in Nigeria. J Clin Toxicol. 2016;6(1):276. 2. Carey R, Driscoll T, Peters S, Glass DC, Reid A, Benke G. e tal. Estimated prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens in Australia (2011- 2012). J Occup Environ Med. 2014;71(1):55–62. 3. Ekpenyong C, Asuquo A. Recent advances in occupational and environmental health hazards of workers exposed to gasoline compounds. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2017;30(1):1–26. 4. Travis LB, Yang LIC, Zhang ZN, Li DE, Yin SN, Chow WH, et al. Hematopoietic malignancies and related disorders among benzene exposed workers in China. NCI. 1994;14(1-2):91–102. 5. Okonkwo COJ, Ehileboh AD, Nwobodo E, Dike CC. The effects of acute gasoline vapor inhalation on some hematological indices. J Acute Dis. 2016;5(2):123–5. 6. Chavan S, Jadhav S. A study of pulmonary function tests, diffusing capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide and hematological parameters among petrol pump workers. NJP PP. 2017;7(6):1. 7. Houot M, Pilorget C, Dananche B. Prevalence of exposure to some occupational carcinogens in France: evolution between 1999 and 2007. Occup Environ Med. 2014;71(Suppl 1): A16. 8. Mistry H, Mathur A, Parmar D, Dixit R. Study of leucocyte count and its association with blood pressure in petrol pump workers of Surat city. Int J Basic Appl Physiol. 2016;5(1):71. 9. Jarrahi AM, Mohagheghi MA, Kalaghchi B, Jarrahi YM, Kolahi AA, Noori MK. Estimating the incidence of leukemia attributable to occupational exposure in Iran. Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev. 2009;10(01):67–70. 10. Linet MS, Yin SN, Tian HY, Gilbert ES, Dores GM, Hayes RB, et al. Incidence of hematopoietic malignancies in Chinese benzene-exposed workers. Int J Cancer. 2015;137(1):2184–97. 11. Hayes RB, Songnian Y, Dosemeci M, Linet M. Benzene and lympho hematopoietic malignancies in humans. Am J Indu Med. 2001;40(2):117–26. 12. Cherrie JW, Tongeren MV, Semple S. Exposure to occupational carcinogens in Great Britain. Anna Occup Hygiene. 2007;51(8):653–64. 13. D’Mannetje A, McLean D, Glass B, Cheung K, Douwes J, Pearce N, et al. Occupational exposure to carcinogens in New Zealand. J Occup Environ Med. 2014;71(Suppl 1): A47. 14. Yin S, Li Q, Liu Y, Tian F, Do C, Jin C. Occupational exposure to benzene in China. Br J Ind Med. 1987;44(3):192–5.